Inflatable Bed

ABSTRACT

An inflatable bed includes a top sheet, a bottom sheet, an endless surrounding belt, and a plurality of pull belts. The surrounding belt cooperates with the top and bottom sheets to define an inflatable space. The surrounding belt has a bow tie shaped cross-section and includes vertically opposite upper and lower hollow portions. The upper hollow portion has a first surrounding surface confronting the inflatable space and connected to a periphery of the top sheet. The lower hollow portion has a second surrounding surface confronting the inflatable space and connected to a periphery of the bottom sheet. The pull belts are disposed in the inflatable space. Each of the pull belts has opposite top and bottom edges connected respectively to the top and bottom sheets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Chinese Application No. 200720194045.2, filed on Nov. 7, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an inflatable bed, more particularly to an inflatable bed having a simple structure and sufficient structural strength.

2. Description of the Related Art

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional inflatable bed includes a top sheet 40, a bottom sheet 42 spaced apart from the top sheet 40, a middle sheet 41 parallel to and disposed between the top and bottom sheets 40, 42, and a surrounding sheet 43 having a top sheet portion 430 that interconnects peripheries of the top and middle sheets 40, 41 and that cooperates with the top and middle sheets 40, 41 to define an upper inflatable space thereamong, and a lower sheet portion 431 that is connected to the top sheet portion 430, that interconnects peripheries of the middle and bottom sheets 41, 42, and that cooperates with the middle and bottom sheets 41, 42 to define a lower inflatable space thereamong. The conventional inflatable bed further includes a plurality of upper pull belts 51 disposed in the upper inflatable space, and a plurality of lower pull belts 52 disposed in the lower inflatable space. Each of the upper pull belts 51 has vertically opposite top and bottom edges that are connected respectively to the top and middle sheets 40, 41. Each of the lower pull belts 52 has vertically opposite top and bottom edges that are connected respectively to the middle and bottom sheets 41, 42. The presence of the middle sheet 41 results in a double-layer structure of the conventional inflatable bed, and the upper and lower pull belts 51, 52 provide sufficient structural strength when the conventional inflatable bed is inflated. However, processes for interconnecting the middle sheet 41 and the surrounding sheet 43, the upper pull belts 51 and the top and middle sheets 40, 41, as well as the lower pull belts 52 and the middle and bottom sheets 41, 42 are relatively time-consuming and inconvenient, thereby resulting in a relatively high manufacturing cost of the conventional inflatable bed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable bed that has a multilayer appearance, a relatively simple structure and sufficient structural strength.

Accordingly, an inflatable bed of the present invention comprises a top sheet, a bottom sheet, an endless surrounding belt, and a plurality of pull belts. The surrounding belt interconnects peripheries of the top and bottom sheets, and cooperates with the top and bottom sheets to define an inflatable space thereamong. The surrounding belt has a bow tie shaped cross-section and includes vertically opposite upper and lower hollow portions. The upper hollow portion has a first surrounding surface that confronts the inflatable space and that is connected to the periphery of the top sheet. The lower hollow portion has a second surrounding surface that confronts the inflatable space and that is connected to the periphery of the bottom sheet. The pull belts are disposed in the inflatable space. Each of the pull belts has opposite top and bottom edges that are connected respectively to the top and bottom sheets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a partly cutaway perspective view of a conventional inflatable bed;

FIG. 2 is a partly cutaway perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of an inflatable bed according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the inflatable bed according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of an inflatable bed according to the present invention comprises a top sheet 1, a bottom sheet 2, an endless surrounding belt 3, and a plurality of pull belts 51.

The top and bottom sheets 1, 2 are disposed parallel to each other.

The surrounding belt 3 interconnects peripheries of the top and bottom sheets 1, 2, and cooperates with the top and bottom sheets 1, 2 to define an inflatable space 500 thereamong. The surrounding belt 3 has a bow tie shaped cross-section and includes vertically opposite upper and lower hollow portions 31, 32. In this embodiment, each of the upper and lower hollow portions 31, 32 is in a form of an endless tube and has a generally trapezoid cross-section. The upper hollow portion 31 of the surrounding belt 3 has a top wall 301, a bottom wall 300 disposed under and shorter than the top wall 301, an inner surrounding wall 302 interconnecting inner peripheries of the top and bottom walls 301, 300 and formed with a first surrounding surface 3021 that confronts the inflatable space 500 and that is connected to the periphery of the top sheet 1, and an outer surrounding wall 303 interconnecting outer peripheries of the top and bottom walls 301, 300 and spaced apart from the inner surrounding wall 302 of the upper hollow portion 31. The lower hollow portion 32 of the surrounding belt 3 has a top wall 304 coupled to the bottom wall 300 of the upper hollow portion 31 of the surrounding belt 3, a bottom wall 305 disposed under and wider than the top wall 304, an inner surrounding wall 306 interconnecting inner peripheries of the top and bottom walls 304, 305 and formed with a second surrounding surface 3061 that confronts the inflatable space 500 and that is connected to the periphery of the bottom sheet 2, and an outer surrounding wall 307 interconnecting outer peripheries of the top and bottom walls 304, 305 and spaced apart from the inner surrounding wall 306 of the lower hollow portion 32. In this embodiment, the periphery of the top sheet 1 is connected to the first surrounding surface 3021 of the inner surrounding wall 302 of the upper hollow portion 31 of the surrounding belt 3 at a position adjacent to the top wall 301 of the upper hollow portion 31, and the periphery of the bottom sheet 2 is connected to the second surrounding surface 3061 of the inner surrounding wall 306 of the lower hollow portion 32 of the surrounding belt 3 at a position adjacent to the bottom wall 305 of the lower hollow portion 32.

The pull belts 51 are disposed in the inflatable space 500 and are parallel to each other. Each of the pull belts 51 has vertically opposite top and bottom edges that are connected respectively to the top and bottom sheets 1, 2. The pull belts 51 provide sufficient structural strength when the inflatable bed is inflated.

Although this preferred embodiment of the inflatable bed has a double-layer appearance, it has a simpler structure than that of the aforementioned prior art by omitting the middle sheet 42. Moreover, since each of the pull belts 51 is connected directly to the top and bottom sheets 1, 2, the process of connecting the pull belts 51 to the top and bottom sheets 1, 2 is simpler than that of the prior art, thereby resulting in a lower manufacturing cost of the inflatable bed of this invention. Furthermore, when the inflatable bed of this embodiment is inflated, the top wall 301 of the upper hollow portion 31 of the surrounding belt 3 will slightly swell out to serve as a bed rail around the top sheet 1, thereby enhancing safety of the inflatable bed of this invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the second preferred embodiment of the inflatable bed according to the present invention has a structure similar to that of the first embodiment. The main difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment resides in the configuration of the surrounding belt 3. The surrounding belt 3 of this embodiment includes vertically opposite upper and lower hollow portions 31′, 32′. The upper hollow portion 31′ of the surrounding belt 3 is in a form of an endless tube, and includes a generally V-shaped first plate 34 and a top plate 33. The first plate 34 has a middle segment 346, an inner surrounding segment 341 extending from a side of the middle segment 346 and formed with a first surrounding surface 3021′ to which the top sheet 1 is coupled, and an outer surrounding segment 342 extending from an opposite side of the middle segment 346. The top plate 33 is coupled to upper ends of the inner and outer surrounding segments 341, 342 of the first plate 34. The lower hollow portion 32′ of the surrounding belt 3 is also in a form of an endless tube, and includes a generally inverted V-shaped second plate 36 and a bottom plate 37. The second plate 36 has a middle segment 366 coupled to the middle segment 346 of the first plate 34 of the upper hollow portion 31′ of the surrounding belt 3, an inner surrounding segment 361 extending from a side of the middle segment 366 and formed with a second surrounding surface 3061′ to which the bottom sheet 2 is coupled, and an outer surrounding segment 362 extending from an opposite side of the middle segment 366. The bottom plate 37 is coupled to lower ends of the inner and outer surrounding segments 361, 362 of the second plate 36. The second preferred embodiment has the same advantages as those of the first preferred embodiment.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. An inflatable bed comprising: a top sheet; a bottom sheet; an endless surrounding belt interconnecting peripheries of said top and bottom sheets, and cooperating with said top and bottom sheets to define an inflatable space thereamong, said surrounding belt having a bow tie shaped cross-section and including vertically opposite upper and lower hollow portions, said upper hollow portion having a first surrounding surface that confronts said inflatable space and that is connected to the periphery of said top sheet, said lower hollow portion having a second surrounding surface that confronts said inflatable space and that is connected to the periphery of said bottom sheet; and a plurality of pull belts disposed in said inflatable space, each of said pull belts having opposite top and bottom edges that are connected respectively to said top and bottom sheets.
 2. The inflatable bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of said upper and lower hollow portions of said surrounding belt is in a form of an endless tube and has a generally trapezoid cross-section; said upper hollow portion of said surrounding belt has a top wall, a bottom wall disposed under and shorter than said top wall of said upper hollow portion, an inner surrounding wall that interconnects inner peripheries of said top and bottom walls of said upper hollow portion and that is formed with said first surrounding surface, and an outer surrounding wall that interconnects outer peripheries of said top and bottom walls of said upper hollow portion and that is spaced apart from said inner surrounding wall of said upper hollow portion; said lower hollow portion of said surrounding belt has a top wall coupled to said bottom wall of said upper hollow portion of said surrounding belt, a bottom wall disposed under and wider than said top wall of said lower hollow portion, an inner surrounding wall that interconnects inner peripheries of said top and bottom walls of said lower hollow portion and that is formed with said second surrounding surface, and an outer surrounding wall that interconnects outer peripheries of said top and bottom walls of said lower hollow portion and that is spaced apart from said inner surrounding wall of said lower hollow portion.
 3. The inflatable bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said upper hollow portion of said surrounding belt is in a form of an endless tube, and includes a generally V-shaped first plate that has a middle segment, an inner surrounding segment extending from a side of said middle segment and formed with said first surrounding surface, and an outer surrounding segment extending from an opposite side of said middle segment, and a top plate that is coupled to upper ends of said inner and outer surrounding segments of said first plate; and said lower hollow portion of said surrounding belt is in a form of an endless tube, and includes a generally inverted V-shaped second plate that has a middle segment coupled to said middle segment of said first plate of said upper hollow portion of said surrounding belt, an inner surrounding segment extending from a side of said middle segment of said second plate and formed with said second surrounding surface, and an outer surrounding segment extending from an opposite side of said middle segment of said second plate, and a bottom plate that is coupled to lower ends of said inner and outer surrounding segments of said second plate. 